AKA Sorors Set Re-Vamp of Elementary School Playground

The Upsilon Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is set to repair a student playground area for mentally and physically disabled youth in Clinton, Maryland.

The sorority will provide new amenities and safe equipment for disabled students at Tanglewood Regional Elementary School, 8333 Woodyard Rd., on June 4, from 9-11 a.m. as part of the organization’s 1908 Mobilization Day, a four year restoration project that began in 2014 to renovate 1,908 playgrounds by 2018. The sorority was founded in 1908.

“After previously working with Tanglewood’s principal and guidance counselor on a school donation, we saw that the school had further need and we wanted to help,” Tia Belton, vice president of the chapter told the AFRO. “The purpose of this program is to ultimately give all children, safe and inviting places to play.” She said that every chapter in the organization is responsible for participating in projects to restore playgrounds throughout the country.

During the event, organizers and volunteers will be given materials to help plant sensory gardens for blind students, prep groundwork for safer wheelchair pathways, construct swing sets and re-paint the K-8th grade playground.

Belton also said that though the funding for the project is currently coming from organizational sources, secure grants and outside donations, volunteers are still needed. “Anyone in the community is welcome to come out and support our event as any additional hands are so beneficial in helping to restore the playground,” she said.

“It’s important that we appreciate our blessings and the little things that we often take for granted like walking around, using our eyes, or even just simply sitting on a nice playground,” Belton said.